Slide saxophone



Jan. 31, 1933. I M JUHN 1,895,761

SLIDE SAXOPHONE Filed June 10, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1933. JUHN I I 1,895,761

SLIDE SAXOPHONE Filed June 10, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 31, 1933 PATENT OFFICE MARTIN JUHN, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO SLIDE SAXOPHONE Application filed June 10, 1932. Serial No. 616,469.

This invention relates-to wind instruments of the saxophone type and has for its object to provide an instrument of this character in which the tonal pitch is controlled by a slide which varies the length of the horn passage, and by which slurring or gradual variation of tone may be obtained in passing from one note to another over a relatively Wide ran e. c

I A furt er object of the invention is to control the tone by means of an endless slide which in movin through one complete revolution varies t e tone through a desired range.

A further object is to provide means by which the tone of the instrument may be changed an amount corresponding to the range provided by the slide whereby the range of the instrument is doubled.

A further object is to provide an octave key movement including overblow valves located at different distances from the mouth piece which are automatically controlled by the movement of the slide when the octave key is depressed in order to properly regulate the tone for different positions of the tone controllin slide.

A further ob ect of the invention is to provide an instrument of simple and rugged construction which is adapted to be folded to a form such as may be housed in a relatively small instrument case.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise a wind instrument as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an instrument embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top elevation of the instrument as shown in Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the body of the horn looking at the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line indicated at 44 in Fig. l;'

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailed view showing a portion of the octave key mechanism and the juncture of the inlet and outlet ends of the circular horn body;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view showing one of the overblow valves controlled by the octave key;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line indicated at 7-7 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a. section taken on the line indicated at 8-8 in Fig. 7; r

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the portion of the horn body to which the mouth pipe is attached.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the instrument of the present invention has a curved mouth pipe 1 of tapering form to the outer small end of which is attached a mouth piece 2 of the clarinet type having a reed 3 held in place thereon by means of a band 4. The mouth pipe 1 is attached to one end of a tubular horn body 5 which is curved longitudinally to a substantially circular form, and is of gradually increasing size from the end to which the mouth pipe is attached to the outlet end which abuts the inlet end. The mouth pipe 1 may be attached in any suitable manner to the body of the horn, but in order to permit the instrument to be folded to a compact form for carrying in an instrument case, the mouth pipe is preferably connected to one side of the horn body 5 by means of a swivel connection 6 which will permit the mouth pipe to'be swung from the playing position shown in Fig. 1 substantially tangential tothe body of the horn to a folded position extending diametrically across the body of the horn.

The mouth pipe 1 communicates with the small end of the circular horn body 5 immediately in advance of a cross partition 7 interposed between the large and small ends of the horn body. At its large end the horn body 5 is provided with suitable air escape openings 8 which prevent accumulation of pressure within the horn body. The outer periphery of the horn body is substantially cylindrical and is provided with a peripheral slot 9 which extends from the small end adjacent the connection to the mouth pipe to the discharge end, and which gradually increases in width from the inlet end to the discharge end. The peripheral slot 9 extends throughout nearly the entire circumference of the horn body and, to impart the necessary rigidity to the'body cross braces 10 are provided at spaced intervals which connect opposite sides of the horn bodyacross inwardly of the slots. Along one side of the peripheral slot 9 there is mounted a track ring 11 of rigid construction which is provided along its outer edge with an outwardly projecting flange 12, Along the opposite side of the peripheral slotthere is provided a second track ring13 which has; a continuous circumferential groove adjacent its outer edge which receives a detachable wire band 14 provided with lugs 15 at its end which are adjustably secured to gether by means of a screw 16. A circular slide or band 17 is mounted on the track rings between the flange 12 and the wire bands 14. At one point in its circumference the band 17 is provided with an opening 18 of a width substantially corresponding to that of the slot 9 at its wider end and this opening provides an outlet for the escape of. air from the interior of the horn body and determines the effective length thereof by its position circumferentially of the horn body to vary the tonal pitch. Alongside the outlet opening 18 the band 17 carries an outwardly projecting bell 19 which may be formed integrally with the band and which may be stiffened by integral braces 20. At the outer end 7 of the bell portion there is attached a handle 21 by means of which rotative movements may be imparted to the tone controlling slide 17 to position the outlet 18 at any point along the circumference of the horn body. As the outlet 18 is moved from adjacent the small end of the horn body toward the larger end the'efiective length of the horn is gradually increased and the pitch is gradually lowered,

thelowest tone being obtained when the out let 18 is over the larger end of the horn body and the highest tone being obtained when the outlet 18 is over the smaller end.

The parts are preferably so proportioned that a range of one octave is obtained by moving the outlet 18 from a position alongside the mouth pipe connection to the small end of the horn body to a position over the larger end of the horn body atthe opposite side of the partition 7.

It will be apparent that slurring effects due to gradual variations in tone in passing from onenoteto another may be obtained and that, due to the endless form of the controlling slide, the maximum movement necessary to shift-from one note to another of the scale is one-half of a revolution of the tone controlling band. In an instrument controlled by a reciprocating slide, the slide must be moved throughout its entire range of movement in passing from the highest note to the lowest, while with an endless slide, such as herein shown, it'is only necessary to move the outlet 18 across the partition 7. i

To maintain proper air conditions within the body of the horn it has been found desirable to release the air pressureadjacent the peripheral outlet 18 in the variouspositions thereof. As herein shown this is accomplished by means of a plurality of vent valves 22 which are normally held in closed position by any suitable means such as a spring.

As shown in Fig. 3 these valves are carried by arms 23 attached to pivot pins 2a which have attached thereto trip fingers 25 which project into the path of a cam 26; secure'dto the tone controlling slide 17. The cam 26 is in the form of a laterally projecting flange on the slide and is of a length slightly less than the angular space between successive. valves 22 so that one valve is opened as'the other is closed. The cam- 26 is positioned alongside the'outlet 18 and bell 19 so that cam 26 holds open the vent valve closest to the outlet 18." During circumferential movement of the slide, the valves 22 are successively opened and provide a vent adjacent the outlet 18 throughout the major portion of the'circumferential movement thereof.

' Throughout the range provided by the 'rotatable slide thesu'ccessive notes of a musical composition can be sounded by shifting the slide 17 by means of the handle 21, to move the outlet 18 to the'proper successive positions circumferentially of the horn body, and slur- 7 ring or gradual variations in tone may be obtamed to the extent-desired.

In order to increase the range of 'theinstrument a key controlled mechanism is employed for changing the pitch of the instrument an amount corresponding to the range provided by the tone controlling slide, which in the instrument herein described would be one octave. This mechanism is controlled by a key 27, hereinafter referred to as the octave key, which is mounted on the body of the horn adjacent the swivel connection 6'. This mechanism includes two overblow valves 28 and 29 controlling small vent openings, one located near the mouth piece 2 and the other near the swivel connection 6, and mechanism automatically controlled by the tone controlling slide 17 for alternately opening and closing these valves. It has been found that the higher tones produced when the outlet 18 is over the smaller end of the'horn body are more effectually controlled by an overblow valve near the mouthpiece. and that the lower tones produced when the outlet is'overv the larger portion of the hornbody are more effectually controlled by an overblow valve farther from the mouth piece. For this reason, the overblow valve 28 is positioned close to the mouth piece and the overblow valve 29 is positioned adjacent the end of the mouth pipe attached to the horn body.

The key controlled mechanism is so arranged that when the outlet 18 is disposed over the half of the horn body which is of smaller transverse diameter to produce the upper half of the scale, the valve 28 will be actuated when the octave key 27 is depressed and when the outlet is over the opposite half of the horn body to produce the lower tones of the scale the valve 28 remains closed and the valve 29 is opened when the octave key 27 is depressed.

The mechanism is further under the control of the tone controlling slide so that movement of the slide while the octave key 27 is depressed will cause the valves 28 and 29 to be alternately opened and closed during a revolution of the slide, maintaining the valve 28 in open position during one-half of the revolution and the valve 29 in open position during the remaining half of the revolution, closing one valve as the other is opened to automatically maintain the correct tonal control.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the valve 28 is carried by an arm 30 which is fixed to the outer end of a long pivot pin 31 journaled on the mouth pipe intermediate its ends. The pivot pin 31 is provided with a stop arm 32 which engages with the body of the mouth pipe to limit the turning movement of the pin, and has a spring 33 attached thereto which exerts a yielding torsional thrust thereon in a direction to close the valve 28. At its inner end the pin 31 has attached thereto an arm 34, the inner end of which is closely adjacent the swivel connection 6 and has a T-head 35, the inner face of which is formed concentrically with the swivel. When the mouth pipe 1 is in playing position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the T-head 35 overlies one end of a trip lever 36 which is mounted loosely on a pivot pin 37 on the portion of the horn body to which the mouth pipe is swiveled and disposed parallel to the axis of the swivel connection.

A valve lever 38 to one end of which the valve 29 is attached is loosely mounted intermediate its ends upon the inner end of the pivot pin 37. The lever 38 is connected to the valve 29 so as to permit a slight amount of lost motion or play between the valve and lever.

As best shown in Fig. 8 the valve 29 has a stem 39 which is slidable in the end of the lever 38 extending through a recess 40 in the end of the arm. A spring 41 is mounted in the recess 40 and is anchored at its inner end to the body of the lever and at its outer end to the stem 39. This yielding connection between the valve and lever allows the lever to have a movement toward the body of the horn slightly in excess of that necessary to close the valve and makes unnecessary a fine adjustment of the lever. At its end opposite that valve closing position. A spring rod 44 is connected at one end to the trip lever 36 and at its other end to the valve lever 38, and is so positioned that it tends to simultaneously swing the levers 36 and 38 in directions to lift the valves 28 and 29 from their seats.

The octave key 27 is fixed to a pivot pin 45 disposed at right angles to the pivot pin 37 and at the end of the pivot pin 45 adjacent the pin 37 the pin 45 has attached thereto a lever 46 which underlies the arm of the lever 36 which extends to the side of the pivot 37 opposite the trip arm which engages the arm 34. The inner end of the lever 46 overlies the end of the valve lever 38 to which the valve 29 is attached. A spring 47 acting on the pivot pin 45 acts to turn the pin in a direction to hold the key 27 in raised position to press the outer end of the lever 46 outwardly against the interior of the arm of the lever 36 and hold the lever 36 out of engagement with the lever 34 so that the valve 28 is held in closed position by its spring 33, and to press the inner end of the lever 46 inwardly against the valve lever 38 to hold the valve 29 in closed position.

\Vhen the key 27 is in elevated position both valves 28 and 29 are at all times held in closed position regardless of the engagement of the cam 43 with the valve lever 38. If the Octave key 27 is depressed while the lever 38 is riding on the cam 43, the valve 29 is held in closed position by the cam but the lever 46 releases the trip lever 36 which is actuated by the spring 44 in a direction to open the valve 28. If the octave key is depressed while the cam 43 is clear of the valve lever 38 the outward movement of the inner end of the lever 46 releases the valve lever 38 which is then actuated by the spring 44 to open the valve 29. By reason of the fact that the spring 44 has greater leverage on the lever 38 it does not exert sufiicient pressure on the trip lever 36 to open the valve 28. If the key lever 27 is held closed while the slide 17 is moved circumferentially, the valve 28 will be open and the valve 29 closed while the lever 38 is riding on the cam 43 and the valve 28 will be closed and the valve 29 open while the lever 38 is clear of the cam 43, the valve 28 providing the oi'erblow outlet for the upper half of the scale and the valve 29 providing the overblow outlet for the lower half of the scale.

It will be apparent that in two successive revolutions of the tone controlling slide a player may pass continuously up or down the scale through two octaves, it being simply necessary to depress the octave key during one revolution of the slide and to'release it during the other revolution of the slide.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular form of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purposes of explanae tion and illustration and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A wind instrument comprising a mouth pipe, a tubular horn body of loop form having an air outlet extending throughout the major portion of its length, and an endless closure member covering said outlet and movable circumferentially of the loop, said member having an outlet opening overlying the longitudinal horn outlet.

2. A wind instrument comprising a mouth pipe, a tubular horn body having the form of a circular loop, said body having an ex ternal circumferential slot, and a tone controlling band covering said slot and rotatably mounted on the horn body, said band having an outlet opening registering with said slot.

3. A wind instrument comprising a tubu lar horn body having the form of a circular loop, said body being of gradually increasingdiameter toward one end, said body having an external circumferential slot from adjacent the small end to adjacent the large end thereof, said slot being of gradually increasing width toward the large end of the horn body, a tone controlling band covering said slot and rotatably mounted on the horn body, said band having an outlet opening 6. A wind instrument comprising a mouth pipe, a tubular horn body having the form of a circularloop, said body having an external circumferential slot, a tone controlling band covering said slot and rotatably mounted on the horn body, said band having an outlet opening registering with said slot, and key controlled means for varying the tone of the instrument an amount corresponding to the range provided by the tone controlling band, said key controlled means including a plurality of. overblow valves and means controlled by said band for successively rendering the key controlled means inoperative with respect to the individual valves.

In testimony whereof I afl'iX my signature.

' MARTIN- J III-IN.

having a width as great as the widest portion of said slot and movable in registry with said slot, and a mouth pipe connected to the small end of the horn body.

4. A wind instrument comprising a mouth pipe, a tubular horn body having the form of a circular. loop, said body having an external circumferential slot, a tone controlling band covering said slot and rotatably mounted on the horn body, said band having an outlet opening registering with said slot, and valve controlled means for relieving pressure within the horn body adjacent the outlet opening of the band. v V

5. A wind instrument comprising a mouth pipe, a tubular horn body having the form of a circular loop, said body having an external circumferential slot, a tone controlling band covering said slot and rotatably mounted on the horn body, said band having an outlet opening registering with said slot, and key controlled means for varying the tone of the instrument an amount corresponding to {She (i'ange provided by the tone controlling an r 

